Many have adjusted well to the restrictions to the COVID-19. This is a time to find balance between being an alarmist and being complacent.

As we have had time to reflect while adjusting to this new lifestyle, we’ve noticed some positive changes. Friends and family members are talking more and texting less to enjoy the feel of a conversation. Many are keeping their brains active by bringing back puzzles that they can assemble on their kitchen or tray tables. Less pollution has helped wildlife flourish.

Talking with people about their lives, there have been positive things that would not happen or be delayed in normal times. Here are just a few things I’ve experienced that bring me hope that spring is coming and life will return.

¯ My 4-year old grandson learned to ride his bike this week. He was so excited he said he now plans to ride his bike when he goes to kindergarten in the fall. At the same time, he says he plans to get a cellphone so he can call his great-grandmother, “Grum,” every day. (Luckily, his parents can nix the cellphone idea with the excuse that the stores are closed.)

¯ Our editor’s daughter started studying for her driver’s permit. With empty streets and parking lots, this is a great time to practice for her driving test. And with her parents having stressful careers (editor and nurse), that practice will make it easier on their nerves as they ride in the car with her.

¯ The old idea of the chain letter was revived by the executive director of the New York Press Association, emailing recipes to members. It inspired me take out my recipe books. The experience was more than looking up recipes to send, because for years I would save old postcards and letters in these books. It was heartwarming and funny to see the messages that were from over 30 years ago.

¯ While conducting business over the phone, I’ve become friends on a more personal level than I expected. I called Spectrum to upgrade our bandwidth and spoke with a woman working from home in Saratoga. I discovered she has four (barking) dogs, and I learned that she doesn’t feed them dog food but a recipe her husband makes with raw meat. She believes her dogs are healthier and don’t develop the fatty tumors that seem to be more prevalent.

¯ New decorating ideas have been spurred by having cocktail hour on Zoom with friends. My sister-in-law has decided to change her wallpaper after seeing her background from the perspective of how she was being seen in her home.

¯ Innovation and ideas are being spawned during this time. One of our pressmen has numerous side businesses and is so ambitious he plans to start another one. Our newspaper has been able to recover more ink from the 55-gallon drums with bags of ink with one of his ideas. He has a farm on the side and has come up with using a honey filter to get the most out of the ink bags. I think we will see him on “Shark Tank” in the future.

Before, we were so busy focused on our own tasks that we either didn’t take the time out to learn more about the people around us, or we delayed learning or doing positive projects.

Now more than ever, we are alone with our thoughts and actions, and they have resulted in people being more caring, creative and engaging. People are stepping up by seeing the challenges and finding solutions.

These times are also a perfect time to enjoy the stillness, observe the wildlife and see the crocus flowers through the snow flurries and know spring is on its way. It is also a time to be hopeful that we will come through this stronger and more connected.